The Missouri Valley Conference will honor its past when the league conducts its annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in St. Louis on Friday, March 6, 2020.

2020 MVC Hall of Fame Announcement (PDF)

The 23rd MVC Hall of Fame class features a two-sport (baseball/football) student-athlete in Mike Prior (Illinois State); a baseball student-athlete in Bill Mueller (Missouri State); a four-time NCAA track & field pole vault champion in Kylie Hutson (Indiana State); coaching legends Richard “Itchy” Jones (Southern Illinois baseball) and Phog Allen (Kansas basketball) and basketball star Larry Humes (Evansville).

The league will conduct its annual Hall of Fame ceremony as part the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship next March 5-8. The March 6 festivities will begin with an 8:00 a.m. breakfast, followed by the induction ceremony at 8:30 a.m.

Tickets to the 2020 Hall of Fame event – scheduled to be held at Stifel Theatre (formerly known as the Peabody Opera House), which is adjacent to Enterprise Center (formerly known as Scottrade Center) – can be obtained by calling the league office at (314) 444-4300. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 2020 State Farm MVC Tournament marks a milestone for the league as it will celebrate 30-straight years in St. Louis.  With 30-straight years at the same neutral site, Arch Madness is the second-longest neutral site tenured collegiate tourney in the nation (following only the Big East in New York City).

“The Missouri Valley Conference has always been recognized for the great success of its athletics programs, with a rich history that dates back more than a century,” said Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Our MVC Hall of Fame has provided us with an opportunity to honor the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors who have played important roles in the Conference and in intercollegiate athletics.

“The individuals we will be honoring in the Class of 2020 have brought significant honor to themselves, their institutions and to the Conference. We are truly humbled to have this opportunity to salute them for their achievements.” 

LARRY HUMES, EVANSVILLE (1963-66)
Larry Humes left the University of Evansville as the leading scorer in program history with 2,236 points and he currently ranks third on that list, despite not playing in an era with the three-point line.

Humes finished his UE career in 1966, leading the team to an overall mark of 73-12, three NCAA Tournament appearances and two National Championships.  He was a member of the best team in school history, the 1964-65 NCAA Championship squad, which went a perfect 29-0 with wins over Iowa, Northwestern, Massachusetts and Notre Dame.

Following the 1965 season, Humes earned Sporting News Honorable Mention All-America honors, which spanned over all divisions of college basketball.  Additionally, he earned First-Team All-America honors (UPI and AP) for the College Division in 1965 and 1966, and he was an honorable mention pick by the AP in 1964.  He also earned First-Team All-Indiana Collegiate Conference plaudits in 1965 and 1966; and Humes was an NABC All-District 3rd Team selection in 1965 and 2nd Team in 1966.

Humes was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, and he was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in 1962 while going 97-5 in high school, earning Most Valuable Player honors of the ICC in all three seasons.

He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the NBA Draft and went on to a successful teaching and coaching career following his college career, and currently lives in Indianapolis, Ind.  His jersey No. 50 has been retired.


KYLIE HUTSON INDIANA STATE (2006-10)
Hutson is one of the most decorated track & field athletes in Missouri Valley Conference history.  She was a four-time NCAA National Pole Vault Champion (Indoor & Outdoor 2009, 2010) and five-time All American (2008, 2009, 2010) while competing for Indiana State.

She earned Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Most Valuable Field Athlete (2009, 2010) and MVC Outdoor Most Valuable Field Athlete (2008, 2009) and was also a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete (2008, 2009, 2010).  Hutson was also a 7-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer, earning outdoor honors in 2007, 2008 and 2009, while earning all-MVC honors at the indoor meet all four seasons (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010).  Hutson is the only MVC women’s pole vaulter to win as many as three outdoor titles (2007, 2008, 2009) and she’s also the only pole vaulter in MVC history to earn four-straight titles at the MVC indoor meet.

She holds Indiana State school records in the outdoor pole vault (14-09.50 – 2010) and indoor pole vault (14-09.00 – 2010).  Hutson also holds MVC Championship meet records in both the outdoor and indoor events, and is also the league’s all-time record-holder in the pole vault, indoors and outdoors.  She also holds the Marks Field pole vault record (15-05.00 – 2013).

Hutson was the Great Lakes Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year (2010 indoor & outdoor) and was the USATF Outdoor Pole Vault Champion in 2011.  She tied for seventh at the Olympic Trials in 2012 and placed 14th in the pole vault at the World Outdoor Championship in 2011.  She also competed in the Olympic Trials in 2008, 2012 and 2016, and she participated in the pole vault at the World Outdoor Championships in 2013.  

Hutson was Inducted into the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.


RICHARD “ITCHY” JONES, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Jones coached 39 years at the collegiate level at MacMurray (1966-68), Southern Illinois (1970-90) and Illinois (1991-2005), and he is one of college baseball’s top-20 all-time winningest coaches, currently at 18th all-time with a 1,242-752-6 record.

An American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Jones created a baseball dynasty in 21 years as head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, leading SIU into the national spotlight, guiding the Salukis to a 738-345-5 record, including 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and three trips to the NCAA College World Series.

In 1971, his second year at SIU, Jones led Salukis to within one game of the national championship, finishing second at the CWS.  In 1974 and 1977, Jones guided SIU to the CWS once again, as the Salukis placed third both times.

In his 16 MVC seasons, he led the Salukis to the league’s best-regular-season record seven times and also won five MVC Tournament titles.   In 1990, Jones’ 21st and final season at SIU, he led the Salu-kis to a 49-14 record, advanced to the NCAA Regionals as a No. 2 seed; and SIU came within one game of clinching another CWS berth.

Jones was Named the NCAA Division I Diamond Baseball Coach of the Year in 1990 and also earned two other national coach of the year honors -- Adirondack National Coach of the Year in 1971 and The Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1978.

During his tenure, Jones coached 18 major league players, including former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb and outfielder Steve Finley.

On the playing field, Jones was the Salukis’ baseball MVP in 1957 and earned All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors three times as a second baseman. Following a professional playing career in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, Jones began his coaching career as head basketball coach at Jacksonville High School in 1961. 

Following his 21-year stint at SIU, Jones continued his coaching career at Illinois. In 2000, he led the Fighting Illini to a Big Ten Tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. While Jones’ finest season at Illinois was in 1998, when he led the Fighting Illini to a 42-21 record and their first regular season Big Ten Championship in 35 years.  A native and long-time resident of Herrin, Ill., Jones graduated from Southern Illinois in 1960, lettering in both baseball and basketball. He earned his bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1961 and master’s degree in physical education in 1965 from SIU.

He is a member of the Southern Illinois University, Illinois High School Association Baseball, Illinois High School Association Basketball, Jacksonville High School, Herrin High School and MacMurray College Athletic Hall of Fames.  The $4 million stadium renovation of Abe Martin Field honored Jones as it re-opened for the 2014 season as Abe Martin Field at Richard “Itchy” Jones Stadium.  SIU, which also hosts the MVC Baseball Championship in May, will retire Jones’ baseball number (1) this coming spring.



BILL MUELLER, MISSOURI STATE (1990-93)
Mueller was a four-year starter in baseball at Missouri State and was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1993.  That year he also received first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors and ABCA All-Region laurels.

In his collegiate career, Mueller led Missouri State in hits, batting average, runs scored and stolen bases three times and paced the Bears in at-bats and triples twice.  He graduated as Missouri State’s single-season record holder for runs, hits, singles and walks and had career marks for runs (234), hits (289), total bases (398), walks (154) and stolen bases (65).

He was selected to play for the USA National Team and participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1991 and after his collegiate career he was drafted and signed by the San Francisco Giants in 1993, he made his Major League debut in 1996.  Mueller played with the Giants through the 2000 season, was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2001, traded to San Francisco late in the 2002 season, and signed as a free agent with Boston Red Sox in 2003 and led the American League in hitting that year.

Through his first six full Major League seasons, he had a career batting average of .286, and on July 29, 2003 in Texas, he became the first player in Major League history to hit grand slam home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game (and he remains the only player to have accomplished that feat.)  In 2004, he was a starter for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

Mueller received a Missouri State University Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2000 and was Inducted into the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

After finishing his on-field career, Mueller worked as a coach and assistant General Manager for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, 2007-2014, and he  became assistant hitting coach for St. Louis Cardinals, 2015, and was the Cardinals’ first base coach in 2016, and returned to his position as assistant hitting coach in 2017, although he is no longer with the Cardinals.


MIKE PRIOR, ILLINOIS STATE (1981-85)
Prior was a four-year letterwinner in football and lettered three years in baseball at Illinois State from 1981-85. His football number (15) is just one of three retired by ISU.

A three-time Division I-AA (now FCS) All-American defensive back and a three-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference defensive back, Prior holds the ISU career record for interceptions (23) and is tied for second with three interceptions in a game.  He also ranks second in the ISU record books with three career punt return touchdowns.

Prior finished his collegiate career as the all-time leader in punt return yards (906 yards) and punt return yards in a season (436), and he still ranks first in career punt return yards and second in a season.  He also is first in the ISU record books with eight punt returns in a single game against Drake on Sept. 29, 1984.  Prior recorded eight interceptions in two separate seasons while earning the team MVP honor in both 1982 and 1984. 

He is just the third player in ISU history to be drafted by two professional sport leagues (baseball and football) as he was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and selected in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Prior had a long 13-year NFL career (Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, Green Bay), which is decorated with 35 interceptions, 691 tackles, 7 forced fumbles and a Super Bowl ring.  He participated in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers, winning a Super Bowl in 1997.

In baseball, Prior is Illinois State’s all-time leading hitter at .388 and holds the career record for slugging percentage.  He was named MVP of the 1984 baseball season.
Prior was Inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame in 1991 and was inducted into the Chicagoland Hall of Fame in 2008.  He received the Contribution to Amateur Football Award presented by the National Football Foundation in 2014.

He currently works for the Indianapolis Colts as the Youth Football Commissioner in the Marketing/Community Relations department.


PHOG ALLEN, KANSAS
Phog Allen is the first Veteran’s Committee selection to the MVC Hall of Fame (and also the first from the University of Kansas).  In his 39 seasons at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball program, his teams won 24 conference championships and three national titles. The Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively recognized Allen’s 1921–22 and 1922–23 Kansas teams as national champions. Allen also served as the head football coach at Kansas for one season in 1920.  Allen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the inaugural class of 1959. The home basketball arena at the University of Kansas, Allen Fieldhouse, was named in his honor when it opened in 1955.

Kansas competed in what was then known as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association for 21 seasons (1907-28) and he was basketball coach for 11 of those years.  While in the league, he earned two national titles (1922, 1923) and eight league titles. His .792 winning percentage in conference play (126-33) ranks second all-time in MVC history.  While in the conference, Allen won .793 percent of all basketball games (169-44) – that ranks third-best all-time in league history.